How bad is it to replace a single tire? The internet is trying to tell me that a new set is best but at the very least buy two, but is that really necessary with only a year on the tires? I know you guys don't really ever have this problem considering yours last at most 15 minutes, but you're still the experts.

I plan on buying the same exact tire, it would just be new. Will I die from this?

If you're talking about tires for the WRX, here's a pretty good write up on replacing tires for AWD cars: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/ ... ?techid=18

Cliff notes: generally best to replace them all together as mis-matched tires can wear out differentials faster. Replacing just one and having it shaved down to the same tread depth is an option though.

Fuck. The more I read, the scarier it is. I didn't really think that shaving was an option but it looks like this place does it so I'll probably give them a call and see if it's practical at all for road use. They sell the tire I'm looking for too. Thanks for the advice.

Indeed!

Even though Gran Turismo East is down in our neck of the woods, I'm sure Kieran there would be glad to at least help with some guidance over the phone if you don't have any luck up your way.

get two atleast. you don't replace one rotor or one brake pad do you?

agreed, there is a little slop in the Subaru drivetrain to allow for abnormal tire wear, but it's not ideal to run 2 new tires and 2 bald tires.

Either pick up a tread depth gauge at the local parts store or take it to a tire shop to get the depth measured on the good tires. Subaru's spec is that the tires all need to be within 2/32 of each other which gives a good bit of room if the tires are still pretty new (most automotive tires are 10/32 or 11/32 brand new, some as high as 12/32 for touring tires). The other option as mentioned before is to buy one and have Tire Rack shave it to match it up. The only other issue might be getting someone to mount it, but Tire Rack might also have recommendations for their preferred shops to do it without being hassled that you didn't buy it there and the fact that it's shaved.

I had heard that about AWD cars. It makes sense... my diff has freaked out on me when I've had different size tires on each side.

I've totally done that... Two different times.. haha

Ah, I just replaced the pair. Burned too. Wasn't cheap.

Well your life is worth tons more than just two tires, so I for one am very glad you replaced the pair. What size tire you run anyway?

245/45/17.

Yeah, a blowout on the highway wasn't a very good option for me. Seems like that kind of tire damage is the kind that will wait until you need it most before it gives out.

One of the tires is already losing air so I guess it's the rim which sucks even more. Oxidation, right? The tire place said they can clean them and add some bead sealer so I guess that's what I'll do. I'm dick of adding air every few days.

If there was oxidation on there they should have cleaned it before putting new tires on?

that happened to the tires on my OZs, there was rubber build up on the rim, it would leak down in a few days, had if taken off the rim, checked for punctures and found nothing. the tire was mounted back on the wheel still leaked down in a few days, it was old tire build up on the rim, once it was cleaned and remounted it didn't leak.